Out of Isak Dinesen in Africa: Karen Blixen's Untold Story

by Linda Donelson, Anne Born, Don Mowatt

Examines Dinesen's life in Africa, her relationships with lovers and family, and her health problems

Genres: Biography, Africa, Kenya, Nonfiction, Friendship

395 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

11/4/07

After reading Denys Finch-Hatton's biography, I thought I should read something by a writer more sympathetic to one of the central figures in his life, Karen Blixen. I just picked it up, but it is, so far, engaging and well-researched.

***********************
11/6/07

A great, quick read. It provides some fascinating details on Karen Blixen's life in Africa, with the epilogue providing some details of her life after Africa. This is the story of a woman who saw herself as a grand heroine, the protaganist in a great story, but who was unable to escape the confines of her own upbringing and society.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began reading Dinesen's "Out of Africa" and realized her autobiographic account of her life was rather shadowy. There is reference to a husband, but no discussion of him. Reference to sickness but no clarity as to what caused it. References to male friends, but no insight into their relationship with the author.

To fill in the blanks, I found Linda Donelson's "Out of Isak Dineson: Karen Blixen's untold story" at the library. I got so distracted by the researched facts that i finished Donelson first and then returned to Out of Africa feeling more enlightened as to what I was reading. I would recommend both this book and Donelson's work.

Out of Africa, Dinesen, 1937
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For more on complicated African women, see
West with the Night, Markham, 1942
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[HansBlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurzer Auszug a.d. viel längeren Rezension m. Links u. Hintergründen i. m. Blog:

Blixen-Biografin Linda Donelson (1943 – 2012) hat keine Wikipedia-Seite und schrieb offenbar nur dieses eine Buch. Donelson lebte ein gutes Jahr im kenianischen Ngong, also in der Gegend von Tania Blixen. Donelson schreibt weitgehend nur über Blixens afrikanische Jahre, jedes Kapitel ist mit einer Jahreszahl überschrieben. Blixens frühe Jahre, Vorfahren und ihre nachafrikanische Zeit (rund 31 Jahre) beschreibt Donelson nur sehr gerafft (Tania Blixen, 1885 – 1962, ist auch als Karen Blixen und Isak Dinesen bekannt; sie lebte von 1914 bis 1931 in Afrika).
Donelson lebte um 1978 in Kenia und besuchte das Blixen-Haus öfter mit Freunden. Sie saß gern auf Blixens berühmtem Mühlstein auf der Terrasse. Die Ärztin Donelson beschreibt Gesundheit und Medikamente ihrer Hauptfiguren so genau wie möglich und kümmert sich auch ums Sexuelle im übertragenden und wörtlichen Sinn ("the rifles were erotic symbols", S. 30; "Bror… satisfied her physical needs", S. 102; "Denys… willing to satisfy her longings", S. 215; "like many women at age forty-one, Karen was at the height of her sexual interest", S. 246).
Donelson arbeitet Blixens afrikanische Jahre fast zu akribisch ab und klingt gelegentlich zu protokollartig – zumal das ewige Löwen-Abknallen –, manchmal aber auch wie eine Livereportage ("As she walked up the gangway she struggled with the leash of a large Scottish deerhound…", S. 1). Sie zieht viele schnelle, vielleicht allzuschnelle Verbindungen zwischen Blixens späteren, nichtafrikanischen Erzählungen und Blixens Leben in Afrika. Auf den Film Jenseits von Afrika und weitere Blixen-Biografien geht Donelson kaum ein.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend found this book in a used bookstore and gave it to me knowing that my son was getting married in the Nairobi suburb of Karen in a few months. I had seen the film "Out of Africa" and knew the story but this book was an excellent source for a more nuanced understanding of this coffee farmer/writer whose name is still attached to the land she briefly farmed and lost 100 years ago. The author draws on history, cultural context, Dinesen's own fiction, correspondence, accounts by contemporaries and medical records to illuminate the "Out of Africa" story. A portrait emerges of a divorced Danish woman farmer in a British colonial system who was close companions with her Somali and Kikuyu servants and neighbors, and whose home--conveniently near to Nairobi--was a place of hospitality and an informal medical clinic. Denis Finch Hatton, her lover, also proves to be a more complex character than originally imagined.

[K. Lang-Slattery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This award-winning biography describes the true events behind the story "Out of Africa".
Well written with lots of details and background. The author draws parallels between the events in Karen Blixen's life and her writing. An informative appendix highlights what is known of Blixen's life-long health problems and their connection to her early diagnosis of syphilis.
Especially interesting after visiting the Blixen home in Denmark where I first saw this book in the gift shop. The book adds perspective to the story of “Out of Africa,” both the book and the movie.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen I was curious as to what this untold story by Linda Donelsen had to tell. I was not disappointed as I learned so much more about Karen Blixen and her life in Africa & Denmark. This book focused more on Karen Blixen while Out of Africa gave one a more picturesque view of Africa. I'm glad I read Out of Africa first. As I read more of Karen Blixen's own work I will have a solid base to understand her writings.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

so richly described the details behind the love story ,”OUT OF AFRICA”

These two books can only exist together and Donelson richly deserves the highest praise. It’s so tempting in a “tell all “ biography to expose the subject to their shortcomings. Here we love Karen even more after reading both books.
“

[Carrie Cantalupo-Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

After rewatching Out of Africa I researched biographies of Karen Blixen and decided on this one.
It is a fascinating biography of her life including medical analysis and bio background on several key people in her life. It makes me want to go to Denmark and E. Africa to see it all for myself.

[Anna Pawerova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Africa and this book made me feel like i was there with her. Its amazing book and i totally recommend it.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this while listening to Dineson's book gave such insight and context. Such as...she struggled mightily with her health, which she barely mentioned.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books ever. Incredible research gave me so much more about Karen Blixen loved the book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you may have guessed from the title, Out of Isak Dinesen in Africa is a biography of Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen, best known for her book Out of Africa. I picked up this biography by Linda Donelson because it was recommended to me by a friend of a friend on GoodReads. She suggested that if I wanted to read Out of Africa, I might also like to learn some of Dinesen's back-story as well, in order to further understand her writing.

In reading Linda Donelson's carefully researched and well-written account of Karen Blixen's life, I believe I've gained some insight into the life of a fascinating woman. In Out of Isak Dinesen in Africa, Donelson skillfully presents a rich picture of the many facets of Blixen's life on her coffee farm. The biographer carefully balances out the facts with a unique understanding of Blixen's literary works. Donelson attempts to shed new light on Blixen's frame of mind, using her short stories and the symbolism they contain. The biography is both engrossing and also sympathetic to Blixen, asserting that she is largely a victim of her own dramatic and romantic ideals. She felt the failure of her farm and marriage intensely, and suffered crippling depression as a result.

Donelson's writing manages to transport the reader to another time and place, while peeling away the layers of myth surrounding Karen Blixen, and getting down to the truth. She portrays Blixen as a complex woman - adventurous and interesting, but also fearful of what the future might bring.

Linda Donelson provides the reader with new insights into the life of a colorful literary figure in this smooth, lyrical biography. Out of Isak Dinesen in Africa is both informative and interesting, and I would recommend this highly readable biography to anyone interested in the life of Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa, or seen the movie, you realize that there was a lot more to her life in Denmark and Africa than was portrayed in book. Donelson had access to letters never seen before to write this wonderful story of Dinesen's (Blixen"s) real life. She romanticized her life with Denys Finch Hatton and didn't describe enough about her earlier marriage to Bror Blixen. But hers was a book of fiction, so we need to take it at that.

[lauralee olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen's life, a true story

This account of Karen Blixen's life is absolutely the best biographical study that I have come across. I have held a fascination for her life, most especially the Kenya years , and, true romantic that I am, her love for Denys. This portrait of Karen, scars. warts and all deserves my profound thanks and great appreciation.

[Kelly Donelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It's an amazing story with some romance and adventure. Even though the story is about a woman that was born over a hundred years ago you can still easily relate to her. If anyone is interested in reading it I would be happy to pass it along.

[Anusanthee Pillay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It filled in all the gaps left by out of Africa and painted a clear picture of colonial east Africa through the experience of a somewhat enlightened or perhaps more humane settler. Both books should be read together to get the full story

[Donna Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you really love Karen Blixen and Out of Africa and want to absorb every bit of information you can about her life, you'll be interested in learning more about Karen and her life; otherwise, skip it.

[Vi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading if you're a Dinesen junky.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read that gives you more history from Out of Africa. Really clarifies things since Blixen was so vague in her memoirs.

[Rhonda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had read Out of Africa and wanted to know more, this book filled in all the gaps.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I found it very fluid and easy to read. Very riveting as I wanted to keep reading it to find out what would happen next.

[Marzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read that kind of messed with my ideas about Karen Blixen and her, as it turns out, tightly managed personal image.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Out of Africa first...this was an amazing biography